Prayers for Those With Loved Ones Serving Abroad by Clara Ashford

They packed their bags and boarded a plane. They followed a call to a foreign land. They are serving the nations, sharing the Good News, and building a life far from home. And you are so proud of them. You tell everyone you meet about their courage and their faith. You celebrate their obedience and their sacrifice. But in the quiet moments, when the house is still and the distance feels unbearable, you feel it. The ache of their absence. The weight of their empty chair. The loneliness of a table set for one less person. You want to pray for them. You want to support them. You want to be the lifeline they need. But sometimes the words do not come. Sometimes the grief is too heavy. Sometimes you do not know what to say to God. This book is for you. Prayers for Those With Loved Ones Serving Abroad is a collection of sacred liturgies written specifically for the ones who send, the ones who stay, and the ones who pray. These are not ordinary prayers. They are prayers that give voice to the unspoken longings of your heart. They are prayers that acknowledge the joy and the sorrow of sending. They are prayers that meet you in the empty chair, the silent bedroom, and the long nights of waiting. Within these pages, you will find liturgies for every season and every moment of the sending journey. You will find prayers for the mothers and fathers who release their children with trembling hands. You will find prayers for the siblings who grow up without their partner-in-crime. You will find prayers for the grandparents who watch from a distance. You will find prayers for the pastors who let go of their best leaders. You will find prayers for the friends who remain faithful across the miles. And you will find prayers for the hardest moments. The moments when you miss their presence. The moments when you face danger and crisis. The moments when you feel forgotten and replaced. The moments when you secretly wish they had never gone. The moments when the guilt of your comfort feels unbearable. The moments when you are exhausted from being the strong one. These prayers do not pretend that the journey is easy. They do not offer shallow comfort or easy answers. They sit with you in the grief. They hold your hand in the darkness. They bring your honest heart to a God who is not afraid of your fear. Inside this book, you will discover liturgies for: - Saying goodbye and watching them walk through the airport gate - Missing their presence on ordinary days and special occasions - Reading their newsletter and seeing photos of their new life - Making video calls and remembering time differences - Holidays without them and holidays with them - Giving sacrificially and sending care packages - Facing medical crises and danger abroad - When they struggle with their mental health - When they visit home and when they leave again - When you visit their host country - The unspoken confessions you never thought you would admit - The long road home and the transition of re-entry This book is for: - Parents who have released their children to the nations - Children who have grown up without their siblings - Grandparents who pray for grandchildren they cannot hold - Pastors and churches who have sent their best leaders - Friends who have remained faithful across the miles - Anyone who loves someone serving abroad - Anyone who feels the weight of sending - Anyone who longs to pray but does not know where to begin You are not alone in this journey. You are not forgotten in your sacrifice. Your prayers matter. Your support matters. Your love matters. You are the unsung hero of the Great Commission. You are the one who holds the rope while your loved one descends into the unknown. And your role is essential. Do not let the distance silence your prayers. Do not let the grief steal your hope. Do not let the loneliness convince you that you are alone. You are seen by a God who knows the cost of sending. You are cherished by a God who under